Southeastern California Conference
Five New Principals to Lead SECC Schools
S
tudents in five of the conference’s schools will have new principals in the 2016-17 school year. Although the Southeastern California Conference is large and there are 18 schools in its territory, principal changes do not happen often. Don Dudley, superintendent of schools, said to have five principal changes is very rare. “What is unique about all of these principals is that they all have come from within our conference. They all have diverse backgrounds and are ready to take on new leadership roles in our schools,” Dudley said.
Elizabeth Muñoz Beard
Elizabeth Muñoz Beard is the new principal at Orangewood Academy. She was formerly the vice president for academic affairs at Loma Linda Academy. “My goal is to continue to have a Christcentered campus and to develop a shared vision with my teachers, staff, students and community,” she said. Beard plans on achieving this goal by listening and learning about OA as much as possible; supporting the teachers and staff
Elizabeth Muñoz Beard
18
pacificunionrecorder.com
as they develop the students academically, spiritually, socially and physically; getting into classrooms and building relationships with teachers and students; and communicating with and involving parents. “I am very excited about joining the OA family as their principal starting this school year,” Beard said.
students. Lindquist also said he wants to make sure the school is financially responsible as a whole. “I look forward to connecting with students and parents to work toward a common goal to prepare them not only academically, but also spiritually,” Lindquist said.
Nicholas Lindquist
Oscar Olivarria is the new principal at Calexico Mission School. He moved there from Orangewood Academy, where he taught Bible for the past nine years. Growing up in Mexico, he attended Calexico to learn English in eighth grade and continued high school there, graduating in 1996. In 2002, he began his educational career when got the call to be a Bible teacher at Calexico. He taught there for one year before transferring to Orangewood Academy. He and his family will now be moving back to Calexico, which they call home. “Having the opportunity to raise my kids in the same town where I grew up is something I’ve longed for. Now it is happening, and it’s kind of surreal.”
Nicholas Lindquist is the new principal for San Diego Academy, transferring from Calexico Mission School. After graduating from Walla Walla University in 2003, Lindquist went straight to Calexico and taught English and physical education until 2007, when he became part-time vice principal and high school English teacher. Although he will miss the classroom environment, he looks forward to working fulltime in his new role. “I am really impressed with the teachers and the environment,” Lindquist said. “The students and parents are so friendly, and you can see how much they care for their school.” One of his goals is to grow the school and to focus on the spiritual development of the
Nicholas Lindquist
Oscar Olivarria